What is a solid, liquid and gas?

Question

Answer

Why isn't the solar system a giant atom?

Topic: Atom as Solar System

Question

October 5, 2017

I had a question about the article you wrote regarding Bohr's Model of an atom. Why do you disagree with the fact that our solar system can't be just one "giant" atom. I was hoping to get in touch with you to discuss this?

Tristan - USA

28273

Answer

Although our solar system looks like it could be a giant atom, there are a number of problems in the analogy. One it that electrons in an atom have an electrical charge, while there is nothing similar in the solar system. Also, the nucleus of an atom is made up of protons and neutrons, while the Sun is a mass of hot gases.

On the quantum scale, atomic particles are not tiny spheres but are wave packets.

Still, the similarity between the solar systems and atoms is intriguing.

Answer

How are water molecules able to escape gravity?

Topic: Evaporation

Question

September 22, 2017

How are water molecules able to escape gravity? In other words, gravity withholds H2O from leaving the surface of the earth, but that same body of water evaporates and those molecules are unaffected by gravity.

Travis - USA

28256

Answer

With water, the velocity of the molecules is not great enough to overcome their molecular attraction, and thus the material is a liquid that is kept toward the surface of the Earth. However, when H20 becomes a gas, the velocities of the molecules is much greater, such that they move about freely.

Most of those molecules velocities that are low enough to be constrained to the Earth's atmosphere. But some of the molecules of the gas or steam become accelerated due to radiation from the Sn, such that they have enough kinetic energy or velocity to escape the Earth's gravity.

Fortunately, the loss of water vapor molecules into space it very small.

What if matter did not change its state?

Topic: Changing States of Matter

Question

August 25, 2017

Explain that what happened if there would be no change in states of matter?

Thanks

Aamish - Pakistan

28197

Answer

If all matter stayed in its existing state or phase, ice would not melt to become water, and water could not boil into steam. Also, there would be no evaporation of water. Just these factors alone would affect living beings in a short time.

Info on dry ice

Topic: Dry Ice

Question

March 11, 2016

To whom this may concern,

I am a sixth grader at Kennedy Middle School. Our school is participating in something called Genius Hour which allows us to research a topic that interests us. We are required to interview a professional who is knowledgeable about our topic. My topic is dry ice.If you could please answer the questions below as soon as you get the chance, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking time out of your day to respond to this email.

Thank you for your time,

Gianna G.

My questions are:

Where was dry ice first found?

How long does dry ice last in water?

What gas is given off of dry ice?

How is dry ice created?

What is inside dry ice?

How long can you touch dry ice with bare hands?

Can you make dry ice?

Gianna - USA

26856

Answer

Dry ice was first observed in 1835 in France. It is frozen carbon dioxide (CO2). When it melts, it turns to CO2 gas. You should only hold dry ice a fraction of a second. Special equipment is used to make dry ice.